Something You Should Never Tell A Pregnant Woman...

First of all, let me start out by saying that I am NOT pregnant. I'll let you know when I am, but that time has not come yet!

Second, there are MANY things that you should not tell a pregnant woman (too many to name and these things vary by woman, by situation, by month, by week, by day, by minute, by second, and by nanosecond).

I was reminded of something that someone said to me when I was pregnant, however, and I thought I would share it here. I, myself, found this comment to be mostly amusing due to its completely off-the-wall and insane nature.

You see, there is a couple in my ward who tend to be somewhat quirky (I won't reveal their identity because I wouldn't want it to get around to those who know them and to those who don't know them...why would they care?). Anyway, early on in my pregnancy, the husband came up to me. He asked me how far along I was. I told him I was 14 weeks along. I didn't know that my comment would prompt him to share one of the most bizarre stories I have ever heard!

He said "Ahhhh. My wife was about 14 weeks along when she miscarried her third pregnancy." I stared blankly (I mean, what do you say to that? Also, what does a pregnant woman who is 14 weeks along say to that?). His story continued..."She talked with her doctor about it and he said she should be able to get pregnant again. However, she miscarried her fourth pregnancy at 14 weeks along too." Again, I thought "uhhhhh...." Then she miscarried her fifth pregnancy at 14 weeks along as well. This time, we saved the fetus to take to the doctor. The doctor again told us that there didn't seem to be any physical reason for the miscarriage and that she should be able to get pregnant again."

I just stood there in silence, speechless. He concluded his tale by telling me that his wife got pregnant a final time and that this time the pregnancy worked out. He then said "When our son was born, he looked exactly like the other fetuses that were aborted and we believe that it was our same son who tried to come down three times to us before, but for whatever reason, he wasn't ready yet and he aborted the pregnancies so that he could have a little more time before coming to earth."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????????

Again, what do you say to that? I mean, first of all, it is such a strange and inappropriate thing to say to a pregnant woman. But even more than that, it is so wrong doctrinally on so many levels! That is not in line with the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Oh, and did I mention that he also told me that they kept the fetus in a jar in their fridge packed in formaldehyde for a few years?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Sometimes Things Don't Go According to Plan

Peter LOVES the water. He loves bath time and when I take him to the park, I spend a good amount of time keeping him from running into the stream.

That is why Jeremiah and I were so excited to take Peter swimming for the first time. I bought Peter some cute little swim shorts and some swim diapers yesterday. Jeremiah called the Fairmont Aquatic Center yesterday to find out their hours. They informed him that their kid pool opened at 10 a.m. That worked perfectly with Peter's current nap schedule.

So, Peter woke up at 8 a.m. this morning which meant that he wouldn't want to go down for his nap until about 11:30 a.m. or 12 p.m. (He is transitioning to one nap a day)

We played and had breakfast and then everyone got ready to go. Peter was antsy to get outside, so we left early so that we could run an errand before the aquatic center opened up.



Above: Peter excited to be outside...especially since the neighbor's cat stopped by for a visit.



Above: Doesn't he look cute in his swim shorts?

We arrived at the aquatic center at 10 a.m. on the dot...only to be informed by the very unsympathetic receptionist that the kids' pool didn't open until 11 a.m. (despite the fact that Jeremiah had repeatedly questioned the employee he spoke with yesterday and she confirmed and re-confirmed that the pool opened at 10 a.m.).

We didn't know what to do. Peter needed some playtime (badly). Jeremiah had a thought about another pool, so we hopped in the car. We looked it up on Jeremiah's phone and gave them a call...no answer. Throughout the drive, we called at least 4 other places (either no answer, or they weren't open until much later). Then, of course, Jeremiah discovered that he desperately needed to go to the bathroom. So, we pulled over at a store and Jeremiah went in to go to the bathroom...Peter cried the whole time. Fun.

By that time, it was 10:30 a.m., so we decided to simply drive back to the Fairmont Aquatic Center. They had a small playground outside, so we played there until the kid pool opened at 11 a.m.







Above: Peter enjoying the playground.

We went inside and Peter (though beginning to get tired) was in very good spirits. The time on the playground had revitalized him (that little guy loves a good slide). The pool had a very small slope into the water (like sand on a beach). Peter had the sweetest look on his face. He definitely thought that the water was pretty cool. He barely had his feet in the water, but he was very happy. He was taking a good amount of time to get into the water, so we figured that we would help him along. Jeremiah picked him up and brought him further in. We didn't go very far at all though. When we sat down in the water, it went to our waists and when Peter was standing, it went to his chest. He started getting slightly upset (I didn't know then if it was because the water was colder than in the bathtub, but I think now that it was because there was so much water and it was deeper than what he is used to), but he still seemed to be alright.



Above: Before getting in the water.

There was a water vent on the ground right by his foot (it was pushing heated water into the pool). Before we knew what was happening, Peter decided to check it out by simply bending over to grab it...which of course meant that he put his face right into the water. We got him out quickly and he was only under for a split second. But it scared him.

From that point on, the pool ceased to be fun for Peter (we had only been in the water for maybe 5 minutes).



Above: After the traumatic events in the water.

We moved him to a section of the pool that was quieter (thinking that perhaps the noise was adding to his anxiety). But he didn't calm down. So, I got out of the pool and took Pete back to our chairs cuddled him in a towel. He didn't calm down until both Jeremiah and I were sitting next to him. He had to take turns being held and cuddled by both of us until he calmed down. However, anytime we tried to take the towel away or move him closer to the water (to see if he would give the pool a second chance), he would start crying immediately. Poor little guy! Even when he was calm, he still did the cry breathing thing (you know, when you take a deep breath and your chest shudders with little after-shocks or after-cries). It was so sad.



Above: Cuddling with dad for comfort.



Above: Cuddling with mom. Look at those sad, listless eyes!

By that point, it was 11:30 a.m. and it was too close to nap time and Peter was still so upset that it was pointless to try again. So, we headed home. Now, Peter hates his carseat. But when we got him into the car and into his carseat and he realized that there was no chance of returning to the pool, he finally calmed down completely.

We felt so badly that an outing that we hoped would be so fun for him turned out to be so sad!

But he wasn't permanently scarred. After dinner, he was clamoring to get into the tub as usual. So, we'll have to try the pool again another day (perhaps we'll try to ease him into the idea with a kiddie pool in our yard first).

He was so sweet and cuddly the entire rest of the day (especially right before he went to bed). So all's well that ends well.



Above: Peter cuddling me on the bed while the three of us listened to music. Isn't he sweet (and doesn't my hair look awful?)?!

The Easiest Habit to Break...

So, I've decided that the easiest habit to break and the hardest habit to get back into is exercising.

I was exercising four days a week (in the morning before anyone wakes up) before I got sick and then I HAD to take a break because I just felt too miserable.

Sometimes I think my body hates me too because I gained about 3 pounds while I was sick! I was trying to take care of you, body! And you punish me for inactivity when all I wanted to do was sleep and blow my nose? Blah! Mean, mean body!

Now, I'm better and I'm trying to get back into the habit of exercising and it has been rough! I exercised once this week and then forgot to set my alarm last night, so I didn't get to exercise this morning. So, my goal is to exercise three times this week.

Does anyone else feel the same way about the exercising habit? Or are there other habits you feel are equally or even more difficult to get back into once they are easily broken?

As Close To Heaven As It Gets

Today was just a beautiful day. I'll try to be brief since the post I just posted earlier this evening was longer (talking about Easter and General Conference). But then again, you know me!

I am still a little sick, so I didn't have the energy to exercise this morning, but I lost a pound anyway! Yeah! But despite the fact that I got up so late, I still had time to shower, get dressed, and do my hair (that combination hasn't happened while I've been sick for the past two weeks! I've spent a lot of time in my pajamas and when I've washed my hair, I've promptly thrown it up into a barrette).

Peter woke up in a lovely mood at 8:30 a.m. (he usually wakes up at 7:30 a.m., but he is transitioning to one nap a day, so anything goes!). I cuddled him while he drank some milk and then after he had his breakfast, I got him dressed and we went out to run some "errands." The errands were mostly to buy some fun things for Pete. When I went grocery shopping last night, Smith's had some bouncy balls for sale (small ones for $1.80 and big ones for $4). I couldn't fit them in the cart last night, but I really wanted to get Pete some because he LOVES balls.

So, we went out and bought some balls and some more little cars for him. When we got home, Peter had a lovely time playing with his new toys (inside and outside). He threw one of the balls up on the trampoline and tried to get up there himself. I turned around from chasing another ball to find him hanging from the trampoline by both of his little arms with his little legs kicking in the air! I was super surprised by his strength! You've got to remember that he's only 14 months old! I can't even lift myself up in the air like that!

He had such a good time playing with his cars and balls inside too. He was soooo cute and soooo excited. When he's really excited, he makes kind of a huffing and puffing breathing sound while he moves his upper body up and down in an excited way and he sometimes stamps his foot too. It's so cute. :)

Then, he went down for his nap around noon. He woke up in a very lovely mood around 2:30 p.m. and after cuddling him, giving him some milk and some snacks, he wanted to play outside some more. As I said, I'm still sick, but I'm feeling more energized (for which I am grateful, because it is a necessity to keep up with my little guy).

We played outside for at least an hour and then I had to make dinner. My mother-in-law watched Pete while I made dinner (he blissfully played outside some more in the meantime).





Above: Peter enjoying the great outdoors.

The only drawback to the day was that it was a school night for Jeremiah, so we couldn't spend much time with him. He had dinner with us and then headed off to school.

After dinner, we went outside again (Peter's favorite place!). We played and played.

I didn't let Peter play out in the snow this winter (we just never got around to getting him snow boots and snow clothes). Plus, I hate the cold. But now, I regret that I didn't play with him out in the snow. I think, for the very first time today, Peter walked in the snow (there was a crazy snowstorm the other day--it is mostly melted now, but there was still just enough of it left in the shadowy areas of the yard). Peter squatted down and felt the snow with his hands and promptly picked some of it up and put it in his mouth. He smiled so big and started squeeling and grunting because he thought it was quite tasty. It was so cute.

At one point, I showed him how you can make footprints in the snow. He walked around my footprints forming a perfect rainbow of baby footprints around mine. My mother-in-law was kind enough to watch him while I ran in and got my camera because it was just too cute. I'm not sure that the picture does it justice, but it sure was sweet.



After he had played good and hard, we went inside. By this time, Peter was tuckered out. So, we put on Sesame Street and I cuddled him while he sat contentedly in my arms. At one point, he slid off my lap (I thought he was ready to play again), but he just got his special blanket and then crawled back into my arms. At another point, I had to leave to get some cough medicine for me and some milk for him. He got so sad because he wasn't done cuddling and he just reached his arms towards me with the saddest and sweetest look on his face. I chugged my cough medicine and rushed back after getting his milk and promptly put him back on my lap where the cuddling resumed.

When it was time to put him to bed, we read some of his favorite books, followed by the scriptures and then I put him in his crib and sang "Army of Helaman" to him. He didn't want me to go, but he promptly went to sleep after I left.

I ask you, does life get any better than that? To be so loved by your child and to love him so much in return is about as close to heaven as it gets in this earthly existence in my opinion.

Easter and General Conference

This weekend contained one of my favorite combinations. Easter and General Conference. I love when they fall on the same weekend. It's also interesting to me that although the speakers aren't given assigned topics to speak on, there is often a prevailing theme. This year, there was so much on families: fathers, mothers, and children. As I have just completed the first year with my own little family, I must agree that families are so important!

I'm grateful that I really savored General Conference when I was single because it is a completely different ballgame when you have little ones. (And I only have one little one so far! Yikes!) The first General Conference that we had Peter with us was interesting, but he was still so little that he was taking 3 naps a day for about a total of 4-6 hours of napping a day. So, while we had some interesting experiences trying to pay attention, we still got a lot out of conference. The second General Conference with Peter, his nap schedule was 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Perfect, right? We had conference time all to ourselves and we were able to give it our undivided attention. This time, Peter is transitioning to only one nap a day. So sometimes he takes two naps and sometimes he only takes one. Plus, when he is awake, he requires your undivided attention! He is a busy guy! And he knows when your attentions are elsewhere!

Not to mention the fact that Peter and I have been suffering from one of the worst colds I have had in years. It has honestly been miserable.



Above: Peter walking around while we watched conference. Oh, and I don't know how his right pajama leg rides up like that, but it always does!

I'm quite surprised at how much I actually got out of conference this time under the circumstances. Jeremiah and I made a goal to watch each of the sessions each Monday night after Peter goes to bed for our Family Home Evening. We re-watched our first session on Monday (and discovered that when you fast forward through announcements and Mo-Tab songs, it is about an hour and a half long). So, we started at 9 p.m. and finished at 10:30 p.m. We were tuckered after a long day, but I'm so glad we watched it. As I said before, I actually had retained a lot of it while I watched it in the background and played with Pete (in the foreground). :) But I felt the spirit so strong as I re-watched it. I look forward to watching the other three sessions again in the upcoming weeks.

As far as Easter, I'm glad that I'm an ultra-planner. I actually bought and organized all of the stuff for Jeremiah's and Peter's Easter baskets (I also did an Easter basket for my mother and father-in-law and my brother-in-law who we live with) the first weekend in March (after the supermarkets had changed their seasonal displays from Valentine's to Easter stuff). I'm grateful because, as I said, I have been so sick the past two weeks that I really wouldn't have had the energy to do it this weekend. But, I know, right? Who is crazy enough to make Easter baskets a month before Easter? I'm the crazy one! And this time, it worked for me!



Above: Peter's Easter Basket. We had a comical experience with those magic grow sponges. I thought it would be fun for Peter, so I put some water into my emptied out Easter basket and poured every single one of the tablets in. The problem(s)? The water wasn't warm enough, so the dissolving capsules didn't dissolve...Peter wanted to play in the water...and eat the tablets...and of course, I decided to do this right at the beginning of conference, right before the prayer. Oops! I had to peel the plastic coating off of each and every one of those tablets while at the same time grabbing them out of Peter's hands and mouth! Well, you live, you learn. But all of the other Easter goodies were a hit!

Peter and I regained a little bit of our energy this weekend and he was well enough to sufficiently enjoy his Easter baskets (my Mom made him one too). He was so cute with his new goodies. He got some new toy cars (as mentioned previously in other posts, Peter LOVES his cars). He also got some new bouncy balls (he loves balls as much as he loves his cars). He was adorable to watch. Though, you can tell from the pictures that he isn't quite his usual playful and smiley self.



Above: Peter and Dad enjoying their Easter baskets.

Also, the weather was somewhat decent--at least decent enough for Peter to play outside (he loves being outside as much as he loves his balls and cars).

When you get the combination of being outside with a ball, Peter is in heaven. Pity the poor person who has to take him back inside before he is ready!



Above: Peter trying to throw a basketball into Grandma's basketball hoop.

Oh, and I had a little embarrassing experience on Saturday. It is our tradition that when the boys go to the Priesthood General Conference session, the girls have some girl time. So, we got some dinner from Panda Express. We ordered enough so that there would be leftovers for the boys. We ordered two of their Panda Feasts. At the end of ordering, the sassy little employee guy asked me if I wanted plates. I said "yes." He kind of rolled his eyes and said "How many?" I said "Oh!" Remember, I was sick and my brain was a little cloudy. I thought very hard. In my mind, I thought, well, there's the three of us here and my mom at home, so four plates ought to do it. So, I said (after a pause) "Four plates." He had such an odd look on his face (which I later realized was a look that said "wow, you gals are planning on eating way more than you should!"). But this didn't initially dawn on me so I turned to Emily and Kim (not my sister, just a friend who was hanging out with us) and said "Four plates, right?" They looked so embarrassed! As we left, they told me that if you are ordering TWO Panda Feasts, you should ask for 10-15 plates--even if you don't need that many. :) But we all had a very good laugh over it (though my laughs sounded like those of a veteran smoker because of my cold). Plus, I'm sure that sassy employee guy just thought I was stupid and a bad liar. I mean, there were 3 girls and they ask for 4 plates? Like he's going to believe that there's really a fourth person out there. But what kind of a bad liar does that make me look like? It makes me look like the kind of liar who isn't smart enough to do simple math equations!

So, besides being sick, my embarrassing Panda experience, and a little instance of Peter getting super jealous of Grandma's attentions to her grand-daughters who are in town--they live in Texas, Easter and General Conference were both wonderful.

March 2010

Above: Visiting with Grandpa Washburn.

Above: Play time with Pete and one of those rare days that I did my hair and make-up.

Above: Cute bedhead.

Above: This guy loves to wear Dad's stuff. Here he is wearing one of Dad's snowboarding beanies.

Above: And he is rocking it.

Above: Woot woot!

Above: Peter's reaction when you take away the beanie.

Above: Ha ha! Look at this pose!

Above: Having lots of fun with play time with Daddy.

Above: Guitar Hero party with the family.

Above: Playing Beatles Rock Band.

Above: Avoiding the paparazzi.

Above: Sometimes this guy just wants to wear his church shoes, a diaper, and nothing else.

Above: Look at those cute chubby legs.

Above: Escorting the penguin skeleton man down the stairs.

Above: Pete chose to wear this himself. Sometimes you just have to dress in your Halloween sweats in March.

Above: We got a visit from Shandie and her girls. Isn't baby Kinlie a cutie?

Above: Maddie is the cutest princess ever.

Above: Trying to get Clayton to smile normally for the camera.

Above: That's better.

 

Above: Pete wasn't quite sure what to think about all the attention that the other cousins were getting. 

Above: Sunday dinner with the Washburn family.

Above: I sure love this handsome guy!

Above: Listening to cousin Alexa play the violin.

Above: Cousin Ty. What a cutie!